Redcar Athletic signed off their home campaign, with a powerful victory on Friday night, in the Wearside League.

By Andrew McElvaney

Redcar Athletic bounced back to winning form by hammering Hartlepool FC 6-1 in their last home game of season at Green Lane on Friday night.

A stunning 8 minute hat-trick midway through the first half by midfielder Michael Woodhouse put Redcar Athletic in total command of the game from which Hartlepool FC never recovered. The first goal came on 18 minutes when Joe Ferguson's neat cross from the right wing into the penalty area saw Hartlepool defender Craig Wetherill beat James Swann to the ball but he only deflected it straight into the path of MICHAEL WOODHOUSE and he thumped a low shot into the net from 15 yards out.

It was 2-0 in the 23rd minute when James Swann raced down the right wing and his low box right across the penalty saw MICHAEL WOODHOUSE nip in behind the Hartlepool FC defence unnoticed to slt the ball past keeper Mitchell Rookes into the far right corner of the net. Almost straight from the kick off left back John Priestner won the ball back for Redcar Athletic before playing a short pass to Sam Webster, who then went on an individual 60 yard run dribbling his way past almost the entire Hartlepool FC team and effortlessly ghosting his way into the penalty area, but then with only the keeper to beat he stabbed his shot 6 inches past the wrong side of the left hand post.

In the 26th minute the home crowd broke into an spontaneous appreciative round of applause when, with his back to goal, 25 yards out and after James Swann squared the ball to him, MICHAEL WOODHOUSE, turned and curled a peach of shot into the top right hand corner of the net for his hat-trick goal. JAMES SWANN, who had himself been a constant threat to the Hartlepool FC defence, got himself on the score sheet in the 36th minute when he was picked out by an excellent pass from Sam Webster and calmy slotted the ball past the keeper into the net.

H/T Redcar Athletic 4 v 0 Hartlepool FC

Hartlepool FC pulled a goal back in the 49th minute when JONATHON MURRAY won a simple foot race for the ball which had been punted over the top of the Redcar Athletic defence and he slotted his shot past keeper Matthew Berry. Hartlepool FC tried this time after time and Matthew Berry made 2 great blocks at the feet of centre forward John Stephenson to prevent them from doubling their tally. Redcar Athletic were however pressing themselves looking for a 5th goal and it came on 75 minutes after Sam Webster was clipped on the ankle by Craig Wetherill, sending him to the floor in the area. With regular penalty taker Andy Jennings missing due to his family commitments, JOE FERGUSON stepped up to take over the spot kick duties and duly dispatched it with aplomb. In the 89th minute JOE FERGUSON intercepted Samuel Cook's pass 25 yards out and raced into the penalty area before dispatching a low drive from 10 yards into the net.

Team news for the away match at Boldon CA on Monday is that hopefully Chris Bivens, Joe Ferguson, and John Priestner who all started against Hartlepool will again be available. Striker Joel Callender could also return after missing the last 2 games due to work commitments.

F-T Redcar Athletic 6 Harton & Westoe 0